Cover for containers



March l0. 1925. A 1,529,246

- yw. B. `PENN COVER FOR CONTAINERS Original Filed March 13, 1920 ATTORNEY i APatented Mar. 10, 1925.

y 1,529,246 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcl-z.

WILLIAM B. FENN, OF PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARGARET f F. FENN, OF PORT WASHINGTON, LO'NG ISLAND, YORK.

COVER FOR CONTAINERS.'

Application filed March 18, 1920, Serial No. 365,460. Renewed July 22, 1924.

To aZZ lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. FENN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Port Washington, in the county of lNassau and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Covers for Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to covers for containers and isparticularly directed to such containers as cans and the like which are employed for canning fruits, vegetables and other forms of foods. f

The object of the invention is to provide -a cover which is simple in construction,

' economical to manufacture, and which is especially adapted for use in connection with sterili'zing processes employed for sterilizing a can and lits contents prior to the sealing thereof, to thereby kill all bacteria and effect perfect preservation of the food in the finally sealed can. y

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of bodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the same in the position which will permit the4 7 entrance of fiuid ressure into the can. I Figure 3 is va similar' view showing the position of the parts which will prevent the egress of the fluid from within the can.

The same part isdesignated by the same reference character wherever it occurs l throughout the several vlews.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide a can which will automatically permit steam orl other fluid under pressure /to enter the can as desired and which will prevent the steam or other fluid under ypressure from escaping from the can. f

I have found that the `most efficient means for effecting perfect sterilizing of fruits,

' vegetables, and other foods is to insert one or more cans in a closed. receptacle and tothereafter supplyJ fluid pressure, for example; steam under pressure, to the closed receptacle, whereby the steam enters a can, agitates the contents thereof, and effects the required sterilization. Thereafter the steam under pressure in the enclosed receptacle 'is be understood, however, that the .construcf tion of a container embodying my invention is to be by no means limited in its use to the foregoing process employed in effecting sterilization of canned., products as its adaptability for other uses will be apparent v and it is the structure of the can and, more particularly, the cover thereof, which constitutes the present invention.

In accordance with my invention I provide a cover 1 which is adapted to be crimped in any desired manner, for example, the usual overlapping` arrangement `illustrated at 2 to the wall 3 of the can. In one form of my invention the cover is provided with an annular depression 4 stamped therein with a plurality of circular depressions 5 annularly disposed in the annular depression 4, provided with a perforation 6 through the same. To reinforce the annular depression 4 and to afford atight seal I provide an annular reinforcing plate of any suitable material interposed between. the cover and the cup-shaped membei` 8. The cup-shaped member 8 surrounds the annular depression 4 on the bottom surface of the coverA and is suitably secured to theJ bottom surface of the coverv in any suitable manner, for example, weldedI or soldered thereto. The cup-shaped member 8 is provided with an upward central depression 9 which is adapted to fitinto the central upwardly extendingy depression formed in the cover 1 by means ofthe interior wall of the annular depression 4 and the reinforcing plate 7. Thecup member 8 is of such depth as to normally seat'therecover 1 and the lcup-shaped member 8,-

through the orifice 10 of the member 8 into the can. vWhen the pressure is exhausted from the closed receptacle it will be apparent that the pressure within the can will cause the cup-shaped member 8 to contact tightly -with the cover 1 and its reinforcing member 7 to thereby prevent leakage of the fluid pressulre from out of the can. To afford a permanent seal, thev depressions 5, 6, etc., if desired, may be solderedor otherwise permanently sealed. y.

Many other ways may readily be devised for accomplishing the purposes of my present invention and I therefore wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the shape, size or material, as I consider it to be my broad invention to provide a container ofy any shape, size or material which will automatically permit entrance of fluid pressure and will automatically prevent the exit thereof. c

Having now described my invention and shown one structure embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and of my own invention and desireto secure by Letters Patent. is

1. In a container for sterllizin products, the combination of means or permitting steam pressure to enter said container, and means actuated by lthev steam pressure admitted' into the container for preventing said steam 'pressure within the container from escaping therefrom.

2. In a container for sterilizi'ng vfood products, the combination of means actuated y steam pressure for permitting said steam pressure to enter said container, and means actuated by said steam pressure within the container for preventing said steam .pressure withm the contamer from escapm therefrom.

3. In a container for sterilizing food products, the combination with a container of means for lpermitting steam pressurev to enter said'container, an means actuatedby the-steam pressure withinthe container for sealing the container whenl the su ply of steam pressure `to said container is filmt off.

4. In a container for sterilizling food i products, the combination of means actuated food` i cover, said diaphragm by steam pressure for permitting said steam pressure to enter said container, and means actuated by the steam pressure within the container for sealing the said container when the steam supply to said container is shut ofi.

5. In a container, a cover provided with a perforation. therethrough, a normally closed tortuous passage for establishing communication between said perforation and `the interior of said container, andmeans actuated by fluid pressure in the vexterior of said container for opening said passage.

6. In a container, a cover provided with a perforation therethrough, a .normally closed tortuous passage for yestablishing communication between said perforation and the interior of said container, means actuated by fluid pressure in the exterior of saidcontainer for opening said passage, and means actuated by the fluid pressure within theA container for closing said passage..

7. A cover for containers including an annular depressionwith a perforation therethrough, a circular flexible member secured to the outer periphery of 'said annular depression within the container and formedv with its center upwardly displaced to form a snug fit with the center of said cover, and provided with a central opening.

8. A cover for containers including an annulary depression with a perforation therethrough, a circular flexible member secured to the-outer periphery of said annular -depression within the container and formed with its center up-wardly displaced-to form a snug lit with the center of saidcover, and provided with a central opening, and a reinforcing plate of annular form interposed between the center of said cover and the centerof said member.

k9. In a container, in combination a body and a cover, one of said members having an inlet opening associated therewith and a flexible diaphragm having an opening offsetl from the. first mentioned' opening movable to close. said.- openings -upon internal pressure and to open the sameupon external pressure. i

10. In a container, a body `and aI cover therefor having an inlet port therein, and a flexible diaphra m mounted to be movable into and out o sealing contact with the aving an aperture located therein offset relative to said port. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set `myrhandon this 8th .day-of March, D.

1920. WILLIAM B.

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